Ensoniq SD-1

The SD-1 comes from a long line of Ensoniq's evolving TransewaveTM wavetable digital
synthesizers. It began with Ensoniq's earliest synthesizer, the ESQ-1. That led to
the SQ-80, then the VFX and VFX-SD (the latter featuring an on-board sequencer) and then to the
SD-1 (and it eventually led to the Fizmo). The SD-1 allows for additive synthesis
using waveform modulation, a sort of wavetable synthesis. This puts it
into a unique class of digital synthesizers along with the PPG Wave series and Waldorf Microwave series.

The SD-1 can create all sorts of acoustic, electric, digital, and
analog-like sounds. Its piano sound has over 1 MB of 16-bit waveforms to
give it a full and rich realistic tone not found in other digital
synthesizers of the time. That piano sound was just the beginning of
what would become the "Perfect Piano" used in Ensoniq's ZR-76 and E-mu/Ensoniq's Halo series "Sounds of the ZR"
ROM expansion soundset.

The SD-1 has 21 voices of polyphony just like its predecessor, the VFX (a 32 voice version later became available).
A single patch can contain up to 6 of the 168 waves in its ROM memory
that can be combined and layered. Advanced and analog-like synth
parameters including its dual multi-mode digital filters, three 11-stage
envelopes, LFO, and 15 modulation sources allow you to further shape and
morph your sounds. There's even a built-in 24-bit VLSI dual effects
processor with reverb, chorus, flanging and delay. The SD-1 also has a
standard 61-note keyboard with velocity sensitivity, polyphonic aftertouch and
full MIDI implementation with 12 channels for multitimbral functions as well as
four 16-bit DAC outputs.

Like the VFX-SD, the SD-1 has a professional quality on-board sequencer
making it a complete all-in-one music production workstation. This is a
24-track sequencer with 25,000 note capacity and
it holds up to 60 sequences and 20 songs. There is quantization (96 ppqn),
real-time or step entry, looped or linear mode, and auto-punch in/out.
Tracks can be set to control the SD-1's internal voices or external MIDI
equipment, or both at the same time! An on-board 3.5" disk drive allows
you to store your programs, sequences, songs, and even MIDI SysEx data.
The SD-1 is compatible with all VFX and VFX-SD program librarys too. An optional
SQX-70 Sequencer Expander upgrades the sequencer memory from 25,000 to
over 75,000 notes.

The link above will take you to an eBay search for this synth to see active listings with more images, specs and information. If you don't find it there, try looking in our forum marketplace. Our marketplace gets thousands of visits every week so make sure to check back often if you want to buy or sell a synth.

Hey, so I was about to sell my ESQ-1 to a friend after much deliberation. I decided to give it one more go and make up my mind, and sent some patches via sysex to it to try out some new soun... | Read more...